The New Antenna - Searcher ii
Improvements
- Marine grade Black insulators will be used on the new antenna. The black will provide better protection again UV rays.
- Insulators on the new antenna have been relief cut to allow shorter fasteners to be used and still have the added strength of 1" thick insulators.
- All the radials have been re-cut to exacting lengths following the original ST2 (more on radial lengths in the The Journal(coming soon))
- Spacing of radials have been re-evaluated to replicate the original ST2 (more on radial spacing in The Journal (coming soon))
- Parasitic element duplicated same as ST2, Searcher I did not use a parasitic element.
- Aluminum fins are now being used on the new antenna, duplicated to match the original ST2. Searcher I antenna used round aluminum radials instead of the fins.
- Electrical insulating sleeves are being used where added fasteners are used for strength, the insulating sleeves will Detach the added fastener from being part of the antenna. More on this in The Journal (coming soon))
- Full Waterproof 300-75 Ohm matching transformer will be used, Plastic covered transformers are NOT waterproof. The Searcher II will use GE Waterproof transformers.
- June 7, 2020 - UPDATE: 300-75ohm Matching transformer
UPDATE: - The GE transformers -
The GE Transformer will not be used, I am still not decided on which transformer will be used, but the GE I wanted to use will not work, The lead end (wires) are to short to work, it makes the wires to tight and I am afraid it could damage the transformer in the long end or even pull the wires out. Anyway, I am still looking into the best option.
- A standard mast mounting clamp will replace the Heavy Duty clamp used on the Searcher I antenna, This will be a through mast type clamp like most standard OTA TV antennas use.
- Fasteners (where possible) have been cut to exacting lengths as the original ST2 aluminum rivets. Does the length of a fastener affect the antenna?, Not sure but have been told it Does. (more on this in The Journal (coming soon))
- Smaller secondary radial mounting plates will be used to reduce the physical and electrical aspects of the antenna to keep them as close as possible to the original ST2 design and physical structure of the antenna, without giving up on the added strength and durability of The Searcher II antenna.
- June 6, 2020 - UPDATE: for the comments directly above this line.
UPDATE: - Secondary Radial Mounting Plates -
After making the smaller secondary radial mounting plate as discussed above, I was NOT satisfied that it was sufficient to maintain the integrity of the secondary elements. Because of the thicker walled elements/tubes which has added weight, I have decided to stay with the original size (larger) mounting plate.
One of the key aspects of the Searcher Antenna is it's ability to with stand weather and high winds where the original ST2 antenna Failed Miserably, and the smaller mounting plate did not provide (in my mind) enough support in the case of high winds, so bigger is better in this case and now I feel very strongly that the secondary elements will have plenty of support in a High wind situation.
Does this affect the Mechanical aspects of the antenna which could in turn affect the electrical aspects of the antenna? Testing will tell and other adjustments CAN be made to overcome this issue if it in fact is an issue at all.
We shall see.............. Stay Tuned.......... Testing SHOULD start soon.
Hand made in the United States of America.
YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS - anonymously POSTED
- JUNE 2020 -
Comment:
I’m interested in purchasing one of your antennas when they become available (if not already). Let me know how you would like to be paid and I’ll get that going.
- ANSWER: The Searcher II Antennas are not available as of this date (6/6/20). Payment terms, cost and any other information will be announced when the antenna is available.
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- MAY 2020 -
Comment:
Thanks for updating the website and for all the hard work and effort being put into this. It's not easy. Glad to see the project wasn't abandoned and hope it pays off. Looking forward to the final product.
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Comment:
Dear Skyward Antennas,
So glad to hear you are building an HD version of the infamous ST2 by Antennacraft!
I had the precursor to the ST2, the three-band Channel Master 5094a ‘Monitenna’ back in the late ’80s / early ’90s. I had just left the active-duty Army had joined the corporate world, so for fun, I began serving as a volunteer EMT at a local upstate NY ambulance corps (Finger Lakes area.) So I decided to purchase a Cobra SR-925 16-channel scanner to monitor my dedicated ambulance frequencies as well as Ontario County (Rochester, NY) EMS, Fire, and Police dispatch and fire ground channels. But I knew I needed a better antenna.
So after heading down to my local Radio Shack, I found the 5094a on sale…so I bought it. A week later, I had it up and running on the top of my house. I could pick up EVERYTHING with that antenna and was really happy with it for close to six years. Several months before I moved to California and became a road-warrior consultant, I took the antenna down and found the plastic insulators embrittled by UV and upstate-NY weather. So in the trash it went.
Now 26 years later, I’m back full swing in the radio hobby and setting up my radio shack with my ham, CB, and scanner gear. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to buy an ST2 in recent years, but I’m looking forward to your Searcher I becoming available.
I registered on your website for your mailing list, and hope to see photos, pricing, and availability soon.
Thanks,
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Comment:
Skyward Antennas / digitalanalog,
Saw the update on your webpage, and that is great to hear the Searcher II is coming our way. Those improvements sound like just what the doctor ordered. In talking with my colleague who I work with (and also a ham,) he actually has a brand new ST2 in his garage which he’s never put up. But after all this talk about the Searcher I/II, he’s now motivated to get it up in his attic and see what it does!
Do to previous lack of respect and ignorance, There will NOT be any information pertaining to progress, updates, testing or availability from Skyward Antennas (digitalanalog) on Radio Reference forums. The Searcher Antenna information will only be found on this web site.
I don’t blame you one iota. Those self-righteous assholes are all posers who are all talk and no action. As we used to say in the Army, “all flash, no bang.”
A few questions: What kind of coax are you supplying with the Searcher II? RG-6 with F connectors? Could a customer upgrade it to RG-8 or even LMR-400? Would those cables improve performance at all?
Regardless, thanks, and appreciate the updates. Keep the information coming!
- ANSWER: Skyward Antennas will NOT be including Coax with the antennas. Antenna, Matching Transformer and Mounting Clamp Only.
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Comment:
It was brought to my attention that you are manufacturing a scanner antenna that resembles the famous Scan-Tenna SC-2 base station receive-only antenna. Is this a fact? Someone posted your website on the Chicago Area Radio Monitoring Association (CARMA) website. Can you tell me if this is true? How much do you charge for your antenna?
- APRIL 2020 -
Comment:
Hello
I seldom post on the forum. To many people that think they know it all. They try to make others look stupid. I have my name on your list. I'm still looking forward to buying one of your antennas if you follow through with the project. Thanks for the info you are putting out. The antenna looks neat.
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Comment:
Hello
Your project with the antenna still on?
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Comment:
Don't let these old by the book no real usage people get to you. I think you are doing wonderfull, keep up the good work. This forum should be renamed the arm chair quarterback radio guy's.
- MARCH 2020 -
Comment:
Ignore ***, He's a poser. He used to have a scanning group here in GA that failed horribly. I was even a mod on it. For what that's worth. He likes to fancy himself as a real scanner expert, but isn't even close.
Just saying..........